Process of making cornstalk fiber composition



Patented July 4, 1931 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE SAMUEL A. GILL, OFAMES, IOUA .ASSIGNOR F ONE-HALF TO ZAC D. DUNLAP AND -HAR-RY B. DUNLAP,BOTH OF AMES, IOWA PROCESS OF MAKING CORNSTALK FIBER COMPOSITION HoDrawing.

This invention relates to the process or method of making cornstalkfiber composition and has as an object the provision of a process ormethod whereby said composition may be readily and inexpensivelyprepared without the use of expensive and com-. plicated machinery ortools and with relatively simple and inexpensive ingredients.

A further object of the invention is to provide an improved process ormethod of making cornstalk fiber composition whereby the saidcomposition may be produced in a multiplicity of forms adapted to avariety of uses.

My inventionconsists in the combination and proportion of ingredients,sequence and arrangement of operations and combination of operationshereinafter set forth and'pointed out in my claims.

The cornstalk fibercomposition made by my improved process or method isa material adapted for wide and diverse use, since it is dielectric,does not absorb moisture, will not split or check, is susceptible ofbeing worked with wood working tools, may be painted, gilded, enameledor otherwise finished, is light and rigid and in the process ofmanufacture may be moulded to any desired form. To make the composition,a filler is compounded of a dry mixture of cornstalk or cane fiber,asbestos fiber and sawdust or wood flour, the fibers being shredded tothe desired degree of fineness; a binder is formed by; dissolvingcelluloidin acetone and the dry-mixed filler is mixed with the bindersolution, gold size or banana oil being added to the resulting mixturetomake the same more plastic and workable and to retard the setting ofthe-binder, linseed oil also being added if desired to further thin theconsistency of the mixture and further retard the action of the binder.The dry-mixed filler comprises substantially forty percentof thecomplete mixture and is preferably compounded of the materials set forthin the following proportions, by weight; eight parts of cornstalk orcane fiber, thirty partsof asbestos fiber and two parts of sawdust orwood flourg the binder and retarding agent constituting the remainingsixty per Application filed March 3, 1928. Serial No. 258,961.

cent of the mixture in the following wei ht proportions; fifteen partsof celluloid 1s- I solved in thirty-six parts of acetone and nine partsof gold size or banana oil. v

The mixture as above prepared is used tofill pressure moulds of thedesired form, moulds and contents being heat treated for an hour or moreto set the binder and produce finished articles of the composition thatare rigid and dry. The addition of the linseed oil to the mixturesomewhat increases the time necessary for the heat treating and settingof the binder, but it makes a more plastic and workable mixture'that iseasily introduced into the moulds.

Since some variation of the ingredients and proportions used in thecornstalk fiber composition as above set forth may be had withoutaltering the result and the sequence of operations employed in makingthe same may be varied without departing from the spirit of theinvention, I wish to be understood'as being limited solely'by the scopeof the appended claims.

I claim as my invention- 1.' The process of making compact andhomogeneous masses or articles having the characteristics describedwhich comprises the dr and asbestos fiber, the addition to said firstmixture of a cellulose binder fluid at normal temperatures, thesubsequentaddition of a mixture of celluloid dissolved in acetone toform a binder fluid at normal temperatures,

the subsequent addition of a binder retarding agent to said admixtureand the final heat treatment of the plastic thus formed under pressureto set the binder and solidify the mass. v

3. The process of making compact and homogeneous masses orartlcleshaving the intermixing of finely divided vegetable 1 binderretarding agent to said admixture and the final heat treatment of theplastic thus characteristics described which comprises the dryintermixing of ten parts of finely divided vegetable fiber with thirtyparts offinely divided asbestos fiber, the addition to said first 5mixture of fifteen parts of celluloid dissolved in thirty-six parts ofacetone to form a binder fluid at normal temperatures, the subsequentaddition of nine parts of a binder retarding agent to said admixture,said proportions being by Weight, and the final heat treatment of theplastic thus formed under pressure to set the binder and solidify themass.

In witness whereofI aflix my signature.

SAMUEL A. GILL.

